Shock arrest of well-liked former mayor Stephen Holmes

A FORMER mayor and senior politician has resigned after being arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

Stephen Holmes – the man with a reputation for ‘getting things done’ – stepped down from his posts as Dacorum borough councillor and Herts county councillor the day after his home was raided by police.

Six officers went to the semi-detached property in Woodhall Farm at 7.05am on Tuesday last week and confiscated computer equipment.

Married Mr Holmes, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years and owned a computer shop in the Old Town for 12 years, was taken into police custody but released less than three hours later. He has not been charged and police have not yet set a date for him to return to police custody.

Herts Constabulary spokesman Rachel Hyde said: “The arrest took place following the execution of a warrant by officers who also seized computer equipment for further specialist examination.”

The Gazette was unable to speak to Mr Holmes despite several attempts to make contact with him.